Noitia maisemissa (1991)

The Witches books are great, and this is one of my favourites ( )

I've already read a few Discworld-novels and aside from the so-so [b:The Colour of Magic|601238|The Colour of Magic (Discworld, #1)|Terry Pratchett|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1365691644s/601238.jpg|194190], they've been all much to my liking. 'Witches Abroad' was my first in the Witche-subseries. The advantage about the Discworld-series is that you can start practically anywhere without the need to have read previous novels, although it might of course help appreciate the story you're reading a little more when you have acquired some background.

That's at least how I felt about 'Witches Abroad'. I believe it's better to read [b:Equal Rites|833422|Equal Rites (Discworld, #3)|Terry Pratchett|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1296660066s/833422.jpg|583611] and [b:Wyrd Sisters|833423|Wyrd Sisters (Discworld, #6)|Terry Pratchett|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356446482s/833423.jpg|1494222] first, which I'll probably do at some time in the future, to get to know the witches and appreciate their behaviour in this third book.

This third book is about preventing the (potential) princess to marry the prince. The witch Margrat Garlick (the youngest of the pack) is summoned to undertake that mission (and thus becomes a Fairy Godmother, with the required wand), to prevent Ella from becoming the new princess. Of course, the other witches, Granny Weatherwax and Nanny (Gytha) Ogg (who can drink and absorb as much alcohol as Lemmy Kilmister from Motörhead could) find out about Magrat's mission and decide to come along. As none of them are witches in the classic sense, the magic is applied in strange ways.

Of course, the trio experiences several great adventures along the way. Pratchett's writing is again fabulous. His humour is out of this world. In general, it's not as funny as in the Death novels, but it certainly made me laugh a lot. Speaking of which, Death also plays a role here, albeit a minor one.

I like how Pratchett mixed several fairy tales in this novel: Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, ... but so that our trio of witches influences those tales to give them a different, happier ending. Ditto for their struggle to prevent the marriage.

In short: Another very entertaining Discworld-novel, no doubt about that. Death is a great character, but the witches are also quite original, I must admit. ( )

For Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick, things are never simple. When they go on a mission to Genua to stop a wedding that was not meant to be it turns out to be more complicated than usual. They have got Mrs. Gogol's voodoo, Nanny Ogg ( )

I only recently discovered Discworld...how did I go this long without knowing about these books! So glad I fell into the series - they are an absolute delight! Am working my way through the Witches books - this one is number 3... although each book I've read to date can work as a stand-alone - so jump in anywhere, the weather is fine. Here's the guide to reading order: http://www.geeksofdoom.com/GoD/img/2014/04/Discworld-2.21.jpg
As for this one - loved it the most out of the three Witch books I've read to date. Found I was laughing out loud as I was reading. I've now read it and listened to it in the car - good stuff!
( )

Back in 1995 I was in the first few months of dating a man who would become my second husband, the father of my younger daughter, and go on to divorce me, and make me wonder why I'd ever liked the guy. However, in 1995 he confided to me that his parents had always read to each other at bedtime, taking it turns, and he'd love to read to me. I hated being read to but acquiesed. I soon learned to love being read to by this man with the fabulous voice, and the books he picked were delightful. The very first book he read me was Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett, and I loved it right away.

I still love this book. It contains some of my favourite Pratchett quotations, has three intricately-drawn main characters, witches all three, and my favourite Pratchett character of all time, Granny Weatherwax, she of the three vests (undershirts) under her dress and opinions and ways that are as unbendable as steel bars. She's ever In cahoots with Nanny Ogg, with her lust for life - food, drink (especially with bananananas and rum in it), sex, ruler of her extended family, and singer of unprintable songs. Then there's Magrat, who is, as Granny says, a bit wet, too inclined to worry about homeless hedgehogs and far too inclined towards occult jewelery, finding herself, and learning martial arts. When a fairy godmother dies and leaves Magrat her wand, the three witches must travel to a far-off city and battle the bad and rescue the good, although most of the time it's hard to tell which is which. (There's a witch/which pun there somewhere but I'm too tired to figure it out.)

Re-reading at least part of the Discworld series is part of this year's plan, as I am depressed and grieving and Pratchett's lively and upbeat books really cheer me up, whether they're set in Ankh-Morpork or the High Ramtops or anywhere else indeed. Witches Abroad was great place to start and I give it five stars and hearty recommendations. ( )